Together with two friends, I decided to go to Iceland. We chose Bakkakot, a farm in the village of Hvolsvöllur. The Bergmann family consists of the senior owners, Maria and Ludvik, and their three children, Jon, Saga, and Robert, who already has a young daughter. The three of us girls lived in our own house on the farm, but meals were served in the host family's house. From the very first moment, we felt very comfortable and were immediately included in family life. Our daily chores involved going to the barn. In the morning and evening, we herded some cows that wouldn't go on their own into the milking robot. We also had to mix feed, feed the calves, cows, and bulls, and provide medical care for sick animals. During the day, we did all the necessary work, such as mucking out horse stalls, driving the tractor, cleaning the guesthouse, and painting walls. My personal highlight was the five week-long horseback riding trips. My job was to manage a herd of around 30 horses, or to ride with the 3-9 guests and cook for them. On our days off, we took trips to the beautiful sights in Iceland.
During my internship, I was able to apply the knowledge I gained at school in a practical setting. I broadened my horizons and improved my English. Being sometimes alone on the farm taught us to organize our work and solve problems independently.
Iceland is a beautiful country with very friendly people, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to do an internship abroad. Saying goodbye wasn't easy, but we're always warmly welcomed by our "family" in Iceland.
Maria Ringdorfer 4L, December 17, 2022
